Musicals

A show that I’ve wanted to see for around a decade now is Spring Awakening. Due to the themes, my parents wouldn’t take me when I had the opportunity. But I’m 24 this year, so I can gallivant around the country and see whatever shows I want. So I did. I gallivanted to the north to take my first trip to the Hope Mill Theatre to see a show that’s been on my radar since the cast of 90210 performed Mama Who Bore Me in 2008.

I’ve been holding onto a ticket for Strictly Ballroom The Musical tickets since the day they were released. Before any casting announcements, before I knew the plot and before they decided they had to push the previews back a week and I had to reschedule the visit. Fortunately my mum was buzzing about this being one of her Christmas presents from me when I told her that Will Young was one of the stars, and he has been her number one since his Pop Idol days.

I feel like Blood Brothers was a play that everybody read at school, and then got a fun trip to see the touring or West End production. This would’ve been brilliant for me as I was a huge theatre fan back then, but unfortunately we studied Educating Rita (another of Willy Russell’s works) and got to watch one scene of the film. If I hadn’t have read Of Mice And Men I think I would’ve missed out on the quintessential British school life. Now I’m in my twenties I’ve corrected my missing out on Blood Brothers at school and have now seen in twice. Once 4 years ago at The Broadway Theatre in Peterborough, and again two days ago in the same theatre.

If you’re an avid theatre goer, has there ever been a show that you have been putting off going to, no matter how many recommendations you’ve had, for no real reason? That was me when everyone was raving about The Grinning Man. The Grinning Man opened in December at Trafalgar Studios for a two month run, but due to high demand it has extended again and again. Now it really must close on 5th May, and with Today Tix running a 24 hour only offer last week for £15 seats I finally took the plunge. If it was extended an extra two and a half months, and if many of my blogging friends were seeing it multiple times, I decided it was time to give The Grinning Man and see the show over the weekend. And honestly, I’m just mad at myself for not going sooner.

Sometimes you just get into a ping pong match about potential collaborations and you’re in the right place at the right time. This happened to me about ten days ago and I ended up at Tina The Musical. The life and times of Tina Turner, as told by the legend herself.

I remember when Kinky Boots made its Broadway debut back in 2013. Mainly because I was obsessed with American Idiot (I’ve still not seen it, but they’re touring later in the year. Definitely going to have to go) prior to this and one of the cast members was cast as Charlie Price. Oh Stark Sands, 16 year old Sophie loved you so much. But despite having seen Killian Donnely in The Commitments in 2014 and loving him in it, I just didn’t get the same excitement for him to play the role when it transferred to the West End. It was probably due to the ticket price, I’m going to be honest. Well in February I noticed a sale on the Adelphi Theatre website and managed to get second row stalls tickets for £20 (which are currently bookable for other dates at closer to £70 – ouch). Now I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to see Kinky Boots this time, and gave myself a midweek two show day in my Easter break.Continue reading